As WBAL's Scott Wykoff reports, Mayor Rawlings-Blake clarified her comments about Mayor Schmoke and legalization of marijuana Download This File

Mayor Rawlings-Blake also took the opportunity on WBAL to clarify her comments about the debate in respect to the quote in the Baltimore Sun that she won't be "waving the Schmoke flag of legalization". Download This File

The Mayor Of Baltimore City, Stephanie Rawlings Blake, joined the C4 Show Thursday morning to talk about marijuana legislation, crime in the city & speed cameras. Here are some highlights:

On the legalization of marijuana:

When asked about her support for the legalization bill, she responded "I don't think the bill is going anywhere. Whether I'm for it is irrelevant." Rawlings said her focus is rather on utilizing her resources to clean the streets of Baltimore. "I'm focused on trying to reduce violent crime. I'm gonna stay focused on what I know is most important to citizens on the street, not having a political debate about whether we should decriminalize or legalize marijuana, rather focus on what we're doing on the streets of Baltimore."

Mayor Rawlings-Blake also took the opportunity on WBAL to clarify her comments about the debate in respect to her comments to the Baltimore Sun that she won't be "waving the Schmoke flag of legalization".

"My attempt was to say in the time that he mentioned it, it was a distraction, because it was the decriminalization, legalization," said Mayor Rawlings-Blake. "Just to have someone, a Harvard educated lawyer, talking about marijuana, it captivated the nation in a way that I think distracted from the real issue which is we want Baltimore to be a less violent city. That's what he wanted. That's what I strive for. And that whole issue just kind of muddled it up. So that's what I was saying."

"I've known Mayor Schmoke since I was a child," said the mayor. "I have the utmost respect for him and he was one of the people who inspired me, as my father did, to consider public service."

She said she believes when Mayor Schmoke had the same challenges that she is facing with increased violence in the city and shrinking resources the conversation he initiated advocating for decriminalizing marijuana unfortunately became a distraction for him.

Mayor Rawlings-Blake said talking about it like Mayor Schmoke did while he was in office, would only prove to be a distraction to her focus on reducing violent crime.

On crime in Baltimore:

Rawlings takes personal interest in the matter and believes they have the resources to improve the streets of Baltimore. "[Baltimore's crime rate] It is disheartening for someone like me. I go to bed thinking about how we can become a safer city," she says. "It is an issue that requires an all hands on deck approach. I'm not discouraged that this is a fight we're gonna win."

On speed cameras:

C4 Show host brought to Rawlings' attention that many have commented that speed camera technology is flawed, not the attempt of her administration to implement it. To this Rawlings' responded that she is determined to get it right. "When I know for sure that the technology matches up to the intent and there's predictability and accuracy on a consistent basis, that's when we'll restart the program."

So what is her goal for 2014? "A community fully engaged and activated on being the city that we know we can be. It takes more than a singular voice saying that enough is enough."